April

I had a few days of holiday I needed to use so I finally tackled the end of the garden which has been a mess since we bought our house. Now hopefully I will be able to grow some things in it!

Easter is not celebrated on the level that it is in the U.S (what holiday is?) but there have been some events that have began popping up over the area in the past few years. Just don't expect them to put their children in Easter dresses and bonnets here. I have listed a few events to do on Easter.

Speaking of Easter, it is a four day weekend (Good Friday and Easter Monday are both bank holidays) and the 5 ways roundabout will be busy on the Friday and Monday!

Africa Alive- TBC

Welcome to the All About Dogs events, a weekend packed with fun, competitions, entertainment, shopping and activities for dogs...

We love dogs! We believe that being a major part of the family entitles your dog to a special day out every so often, where other doggie people (and their dogs) can meet and have some fun joining in a host of activities especially designed for our four-legged friends

Bewilderwood- April 2019

To celebrate the return of our beautiful bluebells, we’re turning Blickling blue for a whole month. Join us for an array of blue-themed activities.​Lights, camera, action...From the 19 April, see the exterior of the house lit up in stunning blue light. Take in the striking view of the hall and driveway, and enjoy finding unique photo* opportunities across the estate. Bluebells in the garden and parkland really are a stunning sight to behold.

​Explore the Great WoodVisit Estate Barn reception to collect a map and follow the 4 mile* circular-walk to the Great Wood where you will see the incredible 'blue carpet' of bluebells. This is a great activity for all abilities and our new multi-use trail is suitable for bikes, adapted weelchairs and pushchairs, whatever the weather.Learn more about these beautiful flowers by joining us for a special guided bluebell walk through the Great Wood on 26, 27 and 28 April from 10am. These walks will depart promptly from outside Estate Barn reception at the main car park.*Please ask for assitance at visitor reception if you would prefer not to walk and would like directions to the Great Wood car park, north of the estate.

Bluebells in the Great Wood bathed in sunlightMusic in the gardenOur Blue Festival will culminate with an afternoon of music in the garden on Saturday 26 May, from 3pm - 7pm. We will be joined by bands Zingaro Blue, Hot Cold Ground and Bass Tree String Band for springtime sounds. Tickets are available to book here.

Prices: Adults £12, Children (ages 5-12) £6, under 5s are free.

*Please ignore any adverts listing this event as 19 May, we have rescheduled to avoid clashing with the royal wedding.

You can decide which distance you would like to go. This is a great way to see the Cambridgeshire area and be active!

Starting and finishing on the outskirts of Cambridge, the ride takes you north through Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and towards the Norfolk coast on the lovely 50 mile route or challenging 100 mile ride. There will be plenty of refreshment stops along the way making this an enjoyable day's cycling to raise money for Prostate Cancer Research.

The Cambridge Literary Festival is a biannual event where you can attend talks and get books signed by authors. I think it takes reading to another level because you get to see the people who have written the books.

Cambridge University Botanical Gardens- April 2019

First staged in 1985 by Duke Street Running Club, this race was originally based in the centre of Norwich - hence its name. Then in 1993 it moved to the Norfolk Showground on the western outskirts of the city and it's been there ever since.The race starts and finishes within the Norfolk Showground and follows a rural single lap route through the parishes of Easton, Honingham, Colton, Barnham Broom, Marlingford and close to Easton College. The first half of the course is pretty flat with one or two little bumps in the second half. All roads along the race route are closed to through traffic while the race is in progress.Please click here to view the course map.With extensive permanent facilities and car parking at the Norfolk Showground, lots of good viewing opportunities, prizes worth over £4,000 for the fleet of foot, chip timing, one of the best medals around and a decent goody bag for every finisher - it all adds up to a great day out for runners and spectators alike.This is a BARR Gold Grade event which over the years has earned a reputation for fast times, first class organisation and excellent value for money.

Charles Burrell Museum- TBC

​Enjoy over 40 acres of formal gardens, wilderness, canals and walkways. Friday, 19th April 2019 will be our Annual Easter Egg Hunt – a great day out for all the family! If children wish to participate in the hunt, it is £3 per child. We recommend arriving early to avoid disappointment. Our tearooms will be open serving delicious food and drinks.​ENTRY ON OPEN DAYS IS £5 WITH CHILDREN FREE, DOGS WELCOME ON LEADS

The East Anglian Game & Country Fair is an annual two day, family event taking place on April 28th & 29th 2018 at the Euston Estate near Thetford, just off the A11.

Home to the Duke and Duchess of Grafton, Euston Hall is steeped in history and provides a beautiful backdrop to the already established events on the Estate. For more information on the venue please visit www.eustonhall.co.uk

Euston Estate provides a central location for The East Anglian Game & Country Fair, only 30 minutes from Norwich on the newly dualled A11 near Elveden with excellent access to the A14, Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds, Thetford, Ipswich and Newmarket.​This beautiful venue lends itself to a game and country fair setting, along with offering us the opportunities to further evolve and develop the show, with the space and freedom to invite new attraction and events, whilst ensuring that the popular events that we have always enjoyed remain.

Fairs, fetes, fun-days and festivals are an integral part of English culture, and Feast of St George perfectly fits the bill. On Saturday 20 April, there's no better excuse to wave a flag, enjoy tea, cake and great entertainment, all in the surrounds of iconic Trafalgar Square.​The event promises a strong and varied live music programme with traditional and contemporary acts.Elsewhere in the square there will be an artisan craft market and interactive activities for all the family to enjoy.Plus a feast of food delights showcasing classic English fayre including Britain's number one dish Chicken Tikka Masala!

​Marathons: These are multi terrain of a minimum of 26.2 miles. There are checkpoints/water/food stations roughly every 5 miles around the course with roving marshals in vehicles together with medical teamsUltra's: These are min 32 miles and consist of an additional 6 mile route after the completion of the marathon route (which serves as the last checkpoint).Half marathons: These are roughly 13 miles as above.Routes: All entrants start at the same time and location which makes it easy for those doing half marathons to start their day with friends and family, completing approximately the first 6 miles of the marathon course and splitting at the first checkpoint.

One of Britain's oldest customs is enacted every Easter Monday in Hallaton. Medbourne plays its part by providing protagonists in the "contest". For this one day in the year the friendly relationship between the two villages is put aside, to be replaced by an age-old hostility and rivalry.

The ingredients of this ancient custom are harepie, pennyloaves, beer in barrels(these are the bottles), pageantry, music and a church service. To this are added pride, passion, virility and tradition. The day culminates in a fierce battle between Hallaton's and Medbourne's finest to wrestle the casks of ale back to their own village.

Bressingham Steam Museum will be hosting its annual Heritage Steam Gala over the Early May Bank Holiday weekend celebrating the return to steam of 2 historic engines.

Bressingham is proud to be able to launch two of the oldest locomotives in England back into steam service for 2017. We are excited to present Port class quarry Hunslet 316 “Gwynedd” of 1883 in original later Penrhyn Railway livery for the first time in preservation. We are equally pleased to present A1X class standard gauge locomotive number B662 “Martello” built in 1875 in Southern Railways livery for the first time since 1948.​This special weekend will see guest 2ft narrow gauge locomotives visiting Bressingham. Quarry Hunslet ‘Hugh Napier’ (built in 1904) will be visiting Bressingham for the whole weekend. Hugh Napier is based at the Ffestiniog Railway but is part of the National Trust Collection. Also visiting Bressingham for the weekend is Quarry Hunslet ‘Maid Maid’ (built in 1903) from the Bala Lake Railway in Wales. Interestingly Maid Marion has been at Bressingham before as she was one of the early fleet of 2ft engines at the museum running from 1967 – 1971.

Surrounded by a moat, formal gardens and parkland. In the spring swathes of daffodils, narcissi, crocus, muscari, chionodoxa and tulips. Closer to the house vast lawn areas, Secret and Cutting Gardens. In the summer the Walled Garden has superb herbaceous borders with anthemis, hemerocalis, geraniums and delphiniums. The Victorian Garden is filled with peonies. Views of surrounding countryside

Display and demonstrations of stonemasonry from Lady Fairhaven's stone yard, and the chance to have a go yourself.

Celebrate the arrival of spring by watching the frolics of new born lambs and learn about of the life of sheep. You may witness the live birth of one of Wimpole's rare breed sheep. Learn more about lambing from our Farm staff

Long Melford Hall- TBC

​Beatrix Potter story readings- 14 Apr 2018 13:00-15:00Get carried away by the magical adventures of Peter Rabbit and his friends as written by Beatrix Potter and narrated by one of our story tellers

Oxburgh Hall- TBC

St George's Day Craft ActivitiesFancy being St. George for the day? Are you that damsel in distress that needs rescuing? St. George themed craft activities let you make a shield to defend yourself against the dragon; you can make a puppet dragon to practice on too! 22 Apr 2018

First raced in 1829 and 1927 respectively, The Cancer Research UK Boat Races are amongst the oldest sporting events in the world. April 2018 will see the running of the 164rd Boat Race and 73rd Women's Boat Race, both now taking place on the Championship Course.​Watched by thousands along the banks of the Tideway, between Putney and Mortlake in London, and by millions more on TV around the world, The Cancer Research UK Boat Races are a unique sporting event. With four very strong squads of athletes, expect to see more thrilling contests once again this year.

See hundreds of live butterflies and moths up-close in our tropical butterfly house.

This technicolour exhibition features a huge variety of these beautiful insects, ethically sourced from Africa, Asia and the Americas.Follow the trail through a jungle habitat in the heart of London as butterflies fly around you. You will pass hungry caterpillars, insects emerging from their chrysalises and busy feeding stations.

Kids and families can find out fascinating butterfly facts and learn more about the behaviour and diversity of these much-loved creatures.

Celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday with the travelling players and watch them perform some of Shakespeare’s best works. Get in the party spirit in New Place gardens with a selection of birthday cake for all who enter.

Celebrate everything that is fantastic about our green and pleasant land as you immerse yourself in the story of England at the biggest St George’s Day celebration in the country. Gasp as the lances shatter in the medieval joust; marvel as feathers fly in the falconry; and chortle at the cheeky jester. Meet a roaming monarch or two and watch fearsome fellows battle it out with club and shield in the Clash of Romans.

There’s plenty for kids to do with have a go circus skills, knight school and arts and crafts to name but a few. The undeniable highlight is of course England’s most legendary battle – see gallant St George upon his mighty steed take on his fiery green nemesis in England’s ultimate show down.​Throughout the day, wander the medieval encampments to see, smell and hear what life was like for the English hundreds of years ago. There’s so much to do – keep your energy up at one of our 4 catering outlets. Join us as we demonstrate everything quintessentially English to celebrate England’s patron saint in one glorious weekend.Please note access to the café and children's play area will be by ticket only during this event.

On Good Friday 20,000 people gather to watch the Easter story in central London.​Supported by the Mayor of London, one hundred Wintershall players bring their electric and moving portrayal of the final days of Jesus to this iconic location in the capital.

The 90-minute production is completely free of charge - a gift to Londoners and visitors.

No tickets are required. There is a performance at 12 noon and 3:15 pm. The production is open air with visibility maximised using large screens. There is a realistic interpretation of the crucifixion so parental guidance is advised. British sign language interpretation is provided.

The designated Disabled Seating Area will be on the North Terrace at the top of the stairs in front of the National Gallery. Level access is available from East and West of the Square. All stewards in the Square will be able to assist you and direct you.

Head down to Trafalgar Square to enjoy our Vaisakhi festival, a celebration of Sikh and Punjabi tradition, heritage and culture, in commemoration of the birth of the Khalsa (the inner core of the Sikh faith) over 300 years ago.

You can expect an authentic community appeal and something for everyone to enjoy, young and old alike.Happy Vaisakhi!

We welcome visitors to the mill to see the mill working, milling flour. The mill is open on the 2nd Sunday of every month from 2pm to 5pm when, wind permitting, the mill will be working.

Wicken Fen- April 2019

Storytime: Blackbird, Blackbird...Join Pip the Blackbird and find out all about his brilliant bird friends, and the amazing things they can do! Listen to a story, make a craft, have an explore, and enjoy a bird-themed activity. 9 Apr 2019

Pond Dipping Join us for a pond dipping session and discover the wonderful underwater world of Wicken Fen. 10 and 15 Apr 2019

Classic Car owners with their machines benefit from free entry and a slot in the display. We’re inviting owners of classic cars and aircraft to display their machines at our ever popular Spring celebration of internal combustion. We’ll have a variety of food on offer from Jimmy’s cafe. The 453rd Bombardment Group Museum and 8th Air Force Heritage Gallery will be open throughout the day too.

Our events are always at the mercy of the weather. Please check our Twitter feed @egsv if the forecast looks dodgy. We'll tweet and update oldbuck.com if we have to cancel at short notice.

Gates open at 10am. Entry is free for classic car owners. For everyone else, entry fees are £2 per person, or £5 per car load if travelling with more than 2 in the car.